The Sovereign Duchy of Baerne

The Duchy is a highly militaristic, fiercely patriotic nation on the continent of Frequesque, known for it's obsession with matters naval and armored. It was a Shroomanian colony until 2 January 1875, when rebel forces under the control of Edward Baerne seized control of the governor's mansion in what was then called Shroomington, renaming both city and mansion Fortress Baerne and declaring the formation of the Sovereign Duchy. The House of Baerne has ruled the nation with an iron fist ever since, barring a brief experiment with democracy shortly after WWI that resulted in the formation of the now-powerless Senate.

Government

Conventional short form: Baerne

Government type: Absolute Monarchy

Independence: 1875

Chief of state: James Baerne, Duke of Baerne, Protector of the Baernish, Lord of Fortress Baerne, etc.

The Duke lives in Fortress Baerne, a castle-cum-palace at the top of a rocky escarpment in the aptly named capital, Fortress Baerne.

Legislative branch

There are 100 counties, each of which elects a Count (from among the local nobility). The Counts elect the Senate Praetor from among themselves; each remaining member of the Senate runs one of the 99 other counties, with control of the Praetor's rotating randomly. (The Senate provides only a sham of democracy; all real power resides with the Duke and his appointed ministers.) Depending on the will of the Duke, Counts may serve as Ministers, while Viscounts serve as the heads of Subministries.

Ministries

Ministry of War: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War
Subministry of Procurement: His Excellency Viscount Spinello, Minister for Procurement
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Internal Affairs: His Excellency Count Lawrence, Minister for Internal Affairs
Subministry of Health and the Environment: Her Excellency Viscountess Krasta, Minister for Health and the Environment
Ministry of Economics, Industry, and Finance: His Excellency Count Sabrino, Minister for Economics, Industry, and Finance
Baernish Intelligence Service: His/Her Excellency Count/ess (Censored) (Reports to MinWar, MinForAff, and MinInAff)

Judicial branch

Ducal Bench; a supreme court appointed by the Duke.
County court system

International organization participation

Shroomanian Commonwealth
Frequesque Treaty Organization
- FTO Joint Fleet
- FTO FAWS Program, Naval Aspect

Geography

Location: Western edge of Frequesue; that orange bit below San Dorado.

Area: Unknown at this time.

Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles; Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 nautical miles.

Climate: Tropical; tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March).

Natural resources: Opals, petroleum, granite, iron ore, coal, gold, niobium, tin, zinc

People & Economy

Language: Baernish Shroomanian (English) (Ex-colony)

Population: 25,003,147 (August '08 est.)

Currency: Mark ($)

GDP: $370 billion

GDP per capita: $19,907

Major Cities

Fortress Baerne (6,213,112)
Forgeville (4,509,981)
Greenport (4,417,996)
Mereen (1,003,164)
James (701,331

Major sources of income: mining; off-shore oil drilling; petrochemical industries; construction; heavy industry; moderately-skilled labor; fishing (Central Lake; ocean); shipbuilding

Baernish Armed Forces

Baernish Ducal Navy

1x Kitty Hawk CVN (HGS Isabella)
1x Tarawa LHA (HGS Terrapin)
6x Kirov CA (HGS Redress of Grievances, HGS Twice for Flinching, HGS Think Twice, HGS Right to Bear Arms, HGS Right of Assembly, HGS Avoid If Possible)
7x Standard DDG (HGS Alice, HGS Jasper, HGS Edward, HGS Rosalie, HGS Emmett, HGS Carlisle, HGS Esme)
7x Sovremenny DDG (HGS Fearless, HGS Once Only, HGS Courser, HGS Green Opal, HGS Balastro, HGS Gift, HGS Ripple )
10x Perry FFG (HGS Piece of Eight, HGS Medusa, HGS Eye in the Sky, HGS Pie Are Round, HGS On Occasion, HGS Steading, HGS Burdette, HGS Marcos, HGS Fitzclarence, HGS Mad William )
3x Virginia SSN (HGS Silence, HGS Glowworm, HGS Trident)
5x Vigilant SSGN (HGS Vampire, HGS Werewolf, HGS Ghost, HGS Specter, HGS Bloody Hand)
10x LCS Corvettes (HGS Gray, HGS Green, HGS Blue, HGS Red, HGS Purple, HGS Yellow, HGS Orange, HGS White, HGS Black, HGS Aqua) (Coast Guard Duties)
2x Lewis and Clark AKE (HGS Tinker, HGS Tailor)
2x Supply AOE (HGS Binder, HGS Builder)

Deployment Orders

Assigned to FTO Joint Fleet

2 × Kirov CA
4 × Sovremenny DDG
4 × Perry FFG
3 × Virginia SSN

3rd Squadron

1 × Kirov CA
3 × Sovremenny DDG
2 × Perry FFG

4th Squadron

1 × Kirov CA
3 × Standard DDG

5th Squadron

1 × Kitty Hawk CV (Nuclear-modified)
2 × Kirov CA
3 × Standard DDG
2 × Perry FFG

6th Squadron

1 × Tarawa LHA
3 × Standard DDG
2 × Perry FFG

Independent Patrol

5 × Vigilant SSGN
10 × LCS corvette

Marine Expeditionary Regiment

60 × AAV
60 × LAV
2700 marine infantry
30 tanks
24 Light ADA (24 × M6)
2 Battalions SP guns (32 × M109)
12 × AH-1
45 × UH-60
15 × CH-53
24 × AV-8B

Baernish Ducal Air Force

Main Operating Bases

Fortress Baerne Air Base (Fortress Baerne)

101st Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Ducal Guard" (20 × MiG 31)
103rd Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Air Marshals" (20 × MiG 31)
105th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Eagle's Screeches" (20 × MiG 31)
107th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Silver Strikers" (20 × F-16XL)
205th Naval Air Wing "Ripple Effects" (20 × AV-8B Harrier II)
1001st Strategic Bomber Sqn. "Exploding Rocs" (20 × B-1B)
1003rd Strategic Bomber Sqn. "Suborbital Shockers" (3 × Silver Streaks)
301st Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. "Flying Dodos" (16 × C-101)
601st Security Sqn.
901st Maintenance Support Sqn.
902nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
903rd Logistic Sqn.
1st Long Patrol Sqn. (6 × P-3C Orion, 1 × Hawkeye 2000)
1st Tactical Transport Sqn. "Guinea Pigs" (5 × C-130)
2 Divisions S-400 SAMs

Greenport Air Base (Greenport)

102st Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Airsharks" (20 × MiG 31)
104th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Raptor Claws" (20 × MiG 31)
106th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Falcon Screams" (20 × MiG 31)
108th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Blazing Eaglets" (20 × F-16XL)
206th Naval Air Wing "Tidal Forces" (20 × AV-8B Harrier II)
302st Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. "Swimming Meese" (16 × C-101)
602st Security Sqn.
902st Maintenance Support Sqn.
903nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
904rd Logistic Sqn.
2nd Long Patrol Sqn. (6 × P-3C Orion, 1 × Hawkeye 2000)

Baernish Ducal Army

Army Structure

First Armored Division First Armored Cavalry Regiment

120 T-80 MBTs
120 Bradley IFVs
500 professional infantry
1 battalion rocket artillery (16 × MLRS)

Second Armored Cavalry Regiment

120 T-80 MBTs
120 Bradley IFVs
500 professional infantry
1 battalion rocket artillery (16 × MLRS)

First Mechanized Infantry Regiment

2000 professional infantry
180 Bradley IFVs
30 T-80 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA (16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns(16 × M109)
400 engineers

Second Mechanized Infantry Regiment

2000 professional infantry
180 Bradley IFVs
30 T-80 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA (16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns (16 × M109)
400 engineers

First Heavy Regiment

1000 professional infantry
120 Bradley IFV
60 T-80 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA (16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns (16 × M109)
400 engineers

Second Heavy Regiment

1000 professional infantry
120 Bradley IFV
60 T-80 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA (16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns (16 × M109)
400 engineers

First Aviation Regiment

Attack Helicopter Battalion (24 × AH-1)
2 × Utility Helicopter Battalion (60 × H-60)
Heavy Lift Helicopter Battalion (30 × CH-53)

Second Armored Division -See Above-

Third Infantry Division First-Fourth Mechanized Infantry Regiments

2000 professional infantry
180 Bradley IFV
30 T-90 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA(16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns (16 × M109)
400 engineer

First-Second Heavy Regiments

1000 professional infantry
120 Bradley IFV
60 T-80 MBT
1 Battalion Light ADA (16 × M6)
1 Battalion SP guns (16 × M109)
400 engineers